Escape apparatus

ABSTRACT

An escape net is engagable on a window sill to permit evacuation of persons trapped on a floor above that room. The apparatus comprises a frame with a net extended between frame members mounted horizontally on the window with a counterweight support and brace interiorly situated.

United States Patent 1191 Milam Apr. 23, 1974 [54] ESCAPE APPARATUS FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [76] [UVCIIIOI'Z Sam A. Milam, 8659 Grand Pas, 950 755 10/195 Germany 1 2/13 Kansas City, Mo, 64114 94.002 5/1969 France l82/l38 Filed: Feb. 27, 1973 Appl. No.: 336,175

US. Cl. 182/138, 182/53 Int. Cl. A62b 5/00, A62b 3/00 Field of Search 182/138, 139, 137, 113,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1938 Hall 182/58 Primary Exar ninerReinaldo P. Machado Attorney, Agent, or FirmRobert G. McMorrow 5 7] ABSTRACT An escape net is engagable on a window sill to permit evacuation of persons trapped on a floor above that room. The apparatus comprises a frame with a net extended between frame members mounted horizontally on the window with a counterweight support and brace interiorly situated.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures ESCAPE APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention pertains to escape devices employed in multi story buildings such as office and apartment structures having a height exceeding the range of capability of ladder assemblies, and is used to permit those trapped in rooms on one level to escape via window exit to an adjacent lower level.

2. Statement of Prior Art It has heretofore been proposed to supply folding net structures of various types. Examples of such prior proposals are shown in the following US Pat. Nos.: 274,338, W. F. Jolley, Mar. 20, 1883; 312,684, l-I. Wettstein, Feb. 24, 1885; 567,642, M. R. Fitzhugh, Sept. 15, 1896; 611,734, F. Hafelfinger, Oct. 4, 1898; 753,930, J. M. Stafford, Mar. 8, 1904.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed primarily to providing lifesaving apparatus having particular utility in high rise structures and other multi story buildings to permit escape via the windows of such buildings when other avenues of egress are blocked by fire or the like. The apparatus hereof is adapted for horizontal engagement with a window sill in a room below that in which a victim is trapped, and presents an extending net into which the victim may safely jump.

The apparatus is demountable whereby it is readily portable and may be carried by elevator.

The unit is of non-complex construction and simple operation.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration in the following specification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a foreshortened view of a multi story building, showing intended employment of an escape apparatus constructed and assembled in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the apparatus; and

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged sectional view showing details taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing in more detail, the apparatus hereof is therein generally identified by reference numberal 10. The unit is adapted for use in a window W having a sill S in a manner appearing hereinafter.

A main component of the apparatus is a frame assembly 12 comprising first and second elongated frame members 14,16. The frame members are sectional and demountable for portability of the assembly, and each has an inner section 18 and 20, respectively, and an outer section 22, 24. Each of the sections have outer ends 26, 28 and inner ends 30,32.

The sections are detachably connected at their respective abutting inner ends 30,32 by means of brackets 34 which include upper and lower plates 36,38 fixedly secured to the ends 32. The plates project from the ends 32 and have co-aligned openings 40,42

formed therein. The sections 18 and each have a series of spaced apart openings 44 therein, and the innermost one of these is aligned with the plate openings 5 40,42 when the ends 30 and 32 abut one another. A cross bolt 46 having an enlarged head 48 extendes through the aligned openings to connect the sections together. As shown in the drawing, the crossbolts are preferably guarded from loss by keeper chains 50 secured also to the plates 34.

The outer sections 22 and 24 of the frame members 14 and 16 are pivotally secured to one another by a pivot bolt 52 extended through pivot openings 54,56 thereof. The pivot bolt has an enlarged base 58 fixed on a saddle 60 which fits over the window sill S- as best shown in FIG. 3. The sections are retained on the pivot bolt by a lock nut 62.

It will be observed in the drawing that the sections 22 and 24 are of curvilinear formation. An open mesh net 64 of conventional heavy net material extends between the sections. The net is drawn taught by increasing the tension thereon by extension of the frame in scissors fashion.

The interior outer end of each of the inner sections 18 and 20 has a seat 66 secured thereto by rivots 68. These seats serve as means whereby firemen or other rescue workers may use their bodies as a counterweight means to offset force on the net occasioned by one jumping into it from above. The firemen seat themselves on the seats 66 and push oppositely to extend the net. This position is maintained in part by a brace means including a rod 70 with downturned ends 72. The ends are engageable in selected pairs of the openings 44 after extension of the sections.

As a further security feature to prevent tipping of the assembly, each of the inner sections has a pair of depending lugs 74 with co-axial apertures 76 therein. Elongated rods 78 have a main straight portion 80 with a threaded end 82 adjustably supporting a plate 84 with an internally threaded sleeve 86. The rod further includes an angular portion 88 and another straight portion 90 terminating in a reduced end 92. The reduced end seats in the openings 76. The rods 78 transmit the weight of the firemen to the building wall when the net is unoccupied.

If desired, a brace may extend from the frame to the room ceiling.

1 claim:

1. Escape apparatus for use in multi-story buildings having windows with window sills, the apparatus comprising:

a sectional frame assembly including a plurality of frame members;

means for engagement of the frame assembly in substantially horizontal position on the window sill with at least a portion of the frame assembly extending outwardly of the building;

a net supported by said portion of said frame assemcounterweight support means on the frame assembly interiorly of the building; and

the counterweight support means including seats mounted on interior ends of the frame members.

2. Escape apparatus for use in multi story buildings having windows with window sills, the apparatus comprising:

- a first elongated frame member having an inner section and an outer section, the sections each having an outer end;

a second elongated frame member having an inner section and an outer section, the sections each having anouter end;

the frame members each being pivotally secured to one another intermediate their outer ends;

a seat on the outer end of the inner section of each frame member;

a net extending between the outer sections and spanning the distance therebetween;

brace means to secure the first and second frame members in adjusted position relative to one an- 

1. Escape apparatus for use in multi-story buildings having windows with window sills, the apparatus comprising: a sectional frame assembly including a plurality of frame members; means for engagement of the frame assembly in substantially horizontal position on the window sill with at least a portion of the frame assembly extending outwardly of the building; a net supported by said portion of said frame assembly; counterweight support means on the frame assembly interiorly of the building; and the counterweight support means including seats mounted on interior ends of the frame members.
 2. Escape apparatus for use in multi story buildings having windows with window sills, the apparatus comprising: a first elongated frame member having an inner section and an outer section, the sections each having an outer end; a second elongated frame member having an inner section and an outer section, the sections each having an outer end; the frame members each being pivotally secured to one another intermediate their outer ends; a seat on the outer end of the inner section of each frame member; a net extending between the outer sections and spanning the distance therebetween; brace means to secure the first and second frame members in adjusted position relative to one another; and means engaging the frame members on a window sill with the net extended outwardly of the building.
 3. The invention of claim 2, wherein: the frame member sections are detachably secured together; and the brace means comprises a rod engageable between the respective inner sections.
 4. The invention of claim 2, and: means extending from each of the inner sections to engage against the building below the window sill, said means comprising elongated rods with building engaging plates. 